Family demands justice after man stabbed, shot in East Village

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 53-year-old man was shot and stabbed to death Tuesday night during an altercation in the East Village, leaving his family heartbroken as police continue to search for the suspects.

The victim, identified as Willie Tillis by his family, was found by San Diego police officers around 7:40 p.m. near the intersection of 14th Street and Imperial Avenue. Officers responded after hearing gunshots while the Padres game was underway just blocks away.

Tillis’ cousin, Joyce Manning, described him as a kind-hearted man who would often help the homeless.

“He was always joking,” said Manning who added Tillis came from a big family that included six siblings and twin daughters.

Manning said she heard the shots herself.

“The next thing I know, I hear two gunshots… and my daughter told me it was him,” she said. “And he was gone.”

Tillis was found on the sidewalk with multiple injuries. According to Lt. Jud Campbell, a group of people had been on the sidewalk when an altercation broke out.

“One suspect shot our victim, and another suspect stabbed him,” Campbell said.

The suspects then left the area in opposite directions.

Tillis was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Detectives are searching for witnesses and reviewing surveillance footage from several nearby cameras, including those at a trolley station.

As police investigate, Manning has a message for her cousin’s attackers: “Was it worth it? Because whoever did it has to pay for it.”

Authorities are urging anyone with information about the crime to come forward as they continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.

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